Oral changes stemming from hemangioma of the tongue

Hemangiomas are among the most common tumors found in children and are characterized by an excess of blood vessels. They most often affect the area of the head and neck, occur with greater frequency among women and Caucasians, and can be found in the oral cavity-especially on the lips, tongue, or mucosa. Clinically, hemangiomas present as asymptomatic red or blue-colored lesions that grow rapidly and are capable of spontaneous regression. When they are found on the tongue, they can result in clinical problems as well as recurrent trauma due to biting of the tongue and tooth-brushing, resulting in bleeding, obstruction of the upper airways, and difficulty with chewing, deglutition, and speaking. The purpose of this article was to present a case study of a 4-year-old child with a diagnosis of hemangioma of the tongue, emphasizing the oral changes found as a result of this lesion, as well as the dental treatment used to minimize these changes.